Inclosed electric switch and method of assembling the same



July 3, 1928.

..I. SACHS INCLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Original Filed Jan. 28, 1922 Fig.1

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Patented July 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH SACHS, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

IN CLOSED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND METHOD OF ASSEHBLIHG THE BAKE.

Original application filed January 28, 1922, Serial No. 532,450. Divided and this application filed August 23, 1926. Serial No. 181,041.

Theoinvention relates particularly to a switch mechanism wherein the switch pro er is inclosed in a protecting casing, rd narily of sheet metal, and wherein there is provided a cranked operating spindle for the switch rotatably mounted'in bearing apertures in the side walls of the casing.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved means and an imm proved method whereby the operating spindle may be readily put int-o its proper operative position in the casing and then conveniently and effectively held in such position.

In the accompanying drawing I have shown several embodiments of the mechanical features of the invention and at least two ways in which my improved method may be practiced. It will be understood, however, that the drawing is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

Of the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of an inclosed switch embodying the mechanical features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a right side elevation.

Fig. 4 is an isometric perspective view on a reduced scale showing the initial formation of the casing as shown in its final condition in Figs. 1, 2and 3. In this view the operating spindle is shown in an intermediate position which it may assume during the assembling operation.

Fi 5 is aview similar to Fig. 4, but showing the operating spindle in aposition which it may assume during an alternative assembling operation.

Figs. 6 and 7 are fragmentary side elevations similar to Fig. 3 but showing diferent embodiments of the mechanical features of the invention.-

Fig. 8 is a view similar .to Fig. 4, but showing an alternate embodiment of the mechanical features of the invention. In this view the operating spindle is shown in an intermediate position which it may assume during the assembly ope-ration.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side view showing the same construction as that shown m Fig. 8, but with the casing in its final condition.

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but showin an alternate embodiment of the mechanical features of the invention.

I ,do not limit myself to any one t pe of. switch mechanism, but for purposes 6 clearly illustrating the invention I have shown one form of switch mechanism which may be used. The mechanism as shown comprises a base 1 on which are mounted stationary switch contacts 2, 2 and 3, 3. Pivoted to the respective contacts 2, 2 are movable switch members 4, 4, which are adapted to engage the contacts 3, 3 when moved into positions parallel with the base as shown in Fig. 2. Also mounted on the base are fuse clips 5, 5 and 6, 6, the clips 5, 5 being connected respectively with the switch contacts 2, 2. The said contacts are adapted to receive cartridge fuses '7, 7 which are thus connected in series with the switches.

For inclosing the entire switching fuse mechanism there is provided a casing 8 having a back wall 9 and side walls 10 and 11. As illustrated, the base 1 is secured directly to the back wall 9 of the casing, but as to this, there may be variation. The casing is provided with a cover 12, preferably hinged to the casing at the bottom. The cover is provided with inward extending flanges 13 which, when the cover is closed overlap the side and end walls of thecasing.

For operating the switch members 4, 4 there is provided an o erating spindle 14 comprising two aligne pivot sections 15 and 16 with a crank section 17 between them, the said crank section including crank arms. 17 and 17 The length of the crank section 17 is such that the two side walls 10 and 11 of the casing are closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section. The spindle also comprises a handle 18 at the end of one of the pivot sections such as the section 16. The two side walls 10 and 11 of the casing are provided respectively with bearing apertures 19 and 20 for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections 15 and 16 of the operating spindle. When the spindle is in place with its pivot sections fitting the said bearing apertures, the handle 18 is on the exterior of the casing as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. In order that the switch members 4, 4 may be moved by the crank section 17 of the spindle, the said members are provided respectively with plates 21, 21 of insulating material, each plate being provided with a slot or aperture as shown at 22 for receiving the said crank section 17. From the foregoing description it will be obvious that when the handle 18 is turned the switch members 4, 4 are correspondingly moved to be engaged with or disengaged from the stationary switch contacts 3, 3.

In accordance with the present invention I provide a novel and improved means and a novel and improved method whereby the operating spindle may be put in place and held in place as shown in Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, it will be observed that there is initially provided in the side wall 11 of the casing a slot 23 which communicates with the bearing aperture 20. This slot has a width and a length which are suflicient to permit the spindle to be moved therethrough into its operative position with the pivot sections 15 and 16 thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures 19 and 20 and with the handle 18 on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall 11. As shown the slot extends from the front edge of the side wall. As to the exact procedure followed in moving the spindle into position, there may be some variation. The bearing aperture 19 may be slightly larger than the corresponding pivot section 15 so as to provide a limited amount of play, the spindle may be put in place as illustrated in Fig. 4. In the procedure as illustrated, the pivot section 15 is firstinserted into the aperture 19 while the pivot section 16 remains above the level of the front or upper edge of the wall 11. Then the spindle may be swung backward or downward, the pivot section 16 moving inward through the slot 23 into its proper position in the bearing aperture 20.

The spindle may be put in place as indicated in Fig. 5. In following the procedure illustrated in Fig. 5, the spindle is moved endwise and in substantial parallelism with itself throughout the entire movement. In being thus moved the spindle assumes an intermediate position as shown in Fig. 5 and the endwise movement is continued until the pivot sections 15 and 16 enter the respective apertures 19 and 20. It will be understood that during this movement the crank section, or at least the right hand crank arm 17 thereof, passes transversely through the slot 23.

In accordance with the invention I provide a closure associated with the casing for closing said slot 23 after the spindle is in place, this closure also serving to hold the corresponding pivot section 16 in place in the bearing aperture 20. A further and very important function of the closure is to serve in cooperationwith the casing side walls to prevent or limit endwise movement of the spindle. Such movement is prevented 2y reason of the engagement of the said cra section at its ends with the said closure and with the side walls 10 and 11.

As to the exact form of closure there may be considerable variation, and the closure may be formed integrally with the casing or otherwise. However, I prefer and have illustrated a closure which is formed integrally with the side wall 11 of the casing. As shown particularly in Figs. 4 and 5, the slot 23 is formed by slitting the side wall and by bending a portion thereof adjacent the slit away from the plane of the said side wall so as to form a projecting lip 24 and so as to leave the said slot. After the spindle has been put in place the lip 24 may be bent backward or returned to the plane of the side Wall, the lip thus forming a closure for the slot as clearly shown in Fig. 3 and serving to hold the pivot section 16 in place in its bearing aperture as also shown in the same figure. The lip also serves, as already described, to prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

As already stated I do not limit myself to an integrally formed closure for the slot, but when an integrally formed closure is provided there may be some variation as concerns the details thereof. In Fig. 6 there is shown a lip 25 having a dove-tailed. projection 25 thereon adapted to enter and fit a correspondingly shaped dove-tailed recess at the edge of the slot. It will be, clear that when the lip 25 is returned to the plane of the side wall, the projection 25 will interlock with the said side wall thus providing increased strength. In Fig. 7 I have shown a closure for the slot in the form of two separate lips 26, 26 instead of a single lip.

When there is a cover such as 12 having side flanges such as 13, the cover flange at one side is of particular advantage in conjunction with my improved construction as it serves to support and protect the slot closure. As shown clearly in Fig. 3 the position of the cover flange 13 is such as to prevent the lip 23 from being bent outward.

Each of the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 7 includes a slot which extends from the front edge of the casing side wall to the corresponding bearing aperture. This construction enables the operating spindle to be swung downward in position, if desired, as indicated in Fig. 4. However, it is not essential to have the slot extend from the front edge of the cover, and in fact under shown as being With a closed slot there is less tendency to reduce the mechanical strength of the easln Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown a construction in which there is provided a slot 27 having both of its ends closed. The slot is parallel with the back wall of the casing, at it will be understood that this position is not essential. It will also be understood that the length of the slot 26 must be at least equal to the amount of offset of the crank section 17 of the spindle so as to permit the s indle to be inserted endwise through the s 0t. During insertion the spindle is moved endwise and in substantial parallelism with itself into its final operative position with the pivot sections 15 and 16 respectively fitting the bearing apertures 19 and '20.

The closure for the slot 27 may be similar to the closures already described in conjunc tion with the other constructions. As shown the slot 27 is formed by slitting the side wall between the edges thereof and by bending a portion of the metal awa from the plane of the side wall so as to orm a projectmg lip 28 and so as to leave the said slot. After the spindle has been put in place the lip 28 may be bent or returned to the plane of the side wall so as to close the slot as shown in Fig. 9 and so as to holdv the corresponding pivot section 16 in place and prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

In Fig. 10 I have shown a construction somewhat similar to that shown in Figs. 8 and 9. However, instead of-providing a single Ii 28 for forming the closure, I have provide four separate lips 29, 29, these beng arranged on opposite sides of the bearmg aperture.

n will be understood that with any of the constructions described, the spindle can be very easily and quickly put into place. Primarily the spindle is inserted by moving it endwise, although with the open-ended slot construction there may be an accompanying swinging movement as shown in Fig.

1. In any case I avoid the tortuous threa ing of the spindle through a small bearing aperture, as has been the prior practice.

This application constitutes a division of my copending application for electric switches, Serial Number 532,450, filed January 28, 1922, allowed Oct. 6, 1925, and forfeited A ril 6, 1926. I do not herein claim the etails of construction and the specific method as disclosed in Figs..8 to 10 of the drawing, these being presented and claimed in my co ending application for inclosed electric switch and method of assembling the same, Serial Number 131,042, filed on even date herewith.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a switch commovable switch member and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, an inclosing casing for the said switch having its opposite side walls closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sectlons of the spindle, the said casing also initially having in one of its side walls a narrow slot communicating with the corresponding bearin aperture and having a width and a lengtl sufiicient to rmit the said spindle to be moved theret rough into its operative osition with the ivot sections thereof fitting the respective aring apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and a closure. associated with the casing for closing the said slot and for holding the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearing aperture, the said closure also cooperating with the casing side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

2. The combination with a switch comprising stationary contacts and an associated movable member, of a single piece switch operating spindle comprising two aligned ivot sections tween them operativel connected with the movable switch mem er and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, an inolosin casing for the said switch having its opposite side walls closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having in one of its side walls a narrow slot communicating with the corresponding hearing aperture and havin a width and a len h sufiicient to permit the said spindle to moved endwise and in substantial parallelism through the slot-into its operative position with the pivotsections thereof fit-. tin the respective bearing apertures and wit the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side walls. and a' with an ofi-set'crank section III prising stationary contacts and an associated movable member, of a single piece switch operating spindle comprising two aligned pivot sections with an off-set crank section between them operatively connected with the movable switch member and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said ivot sections, and an inclosing casing for t e said switch having its opposite side walls closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respectively pivot sections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having one of its side walls slitted with the metal adjacent the slit bent away from the plane of the side wall to form a projecting lip and to leave a slot in the said wall communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture, the said slot having a width and a length sutficient to permit the said spindle to be moved therethrough into its operative position with the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the easing adjacent the slotted side wall, and the sa1d projecting lip being adapted to be returned to the plane of the corresponding side wall after the spindle is in place so as to close the slot and hold the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearing aperture and so as to also cooperate with the other parts of the said side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

4. The combination with a switch comprising stationary contacts and an associated movable member, of a single piece switch operating spindle comprising two aligned ivot sections with an off-set crank section between them operatively connected with the movable switch member and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivotvsections, an inclosing casing for the said switch having its opposite side walls closely adjacent the end of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having in one of its side walls a slot communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture and having a width at least equal to the diameter of the spindle and extending from the front of the said side wall so as to permit the said spindle to be moved through the slot into its operative position with the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side wall, and a closure associated with the casing for closing the said slot and for holding the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearing aperture, the said closure cooperating with the casing side walls to engage the crank section and therely prevent endwise movement of the spin- 5. The combination with a switch comprising stationary contacts and an assoeiated movable member of a single piece switch operating spind e comprising two aligned pivot sections with an oii-set crank section between them operatively connected with the movable switch member and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, an inclosing casing for the said switch having its opposite side walls closely adjacent the ends of the said crank section of the spindle and having in the respective side walls aligned bearing apertures for receivin and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle, the said casing also initially having one of its side walls slitted from the front thereof to the bearing aperture therein with the metal adjacent the slit bent away from the plane of the side wall to form a projecting lip and to leave a slot in the said wall communicating with the said bearing aperture, the said slot having a width sufiicient to permit the said spindle to be moved therethrough into its operative position with the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the exterior of the casing adjacent the slotted side walls, and the said projecting lip being adapted to be returned to the plane of the corresponding side wall after the spindle is in place so as to close the slot and hold the corresponding pivot section in place in its bearing aperture and so as to also cooperate with the other parts of the said side walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle, and a flanged front cover for the casing one of the flanges of which normally extends outside of the slitted ortion of the casing wall and prevents the lip from being bent outward.

6. The herein described method of assembling an electric switch inclosing casing and a single piece switch operating spindle comprising two aligned pivot sections with a crank section between them and also comprising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, the said method comprising initially forming the casing with aligned bearing apertures in its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle and with a slot in one of the side walls communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture, then moving the spindle endwise and in substantial parallelism through the slot into its operative position with the pivot sections thereof fitting the respective bearing apertures and with the handle on the ex- 'terior of the casingladjacentthe slotted side sembling an electric switch inclosing casing and a single p1ece switch operating splndle comprising two aligned pivot sectlons with a crank sect-ion between them and also com prising a handle at the end of one of the said pivot sections, the said method comprising initially forming the casing with aligned bearing apertures in its opposite side walls for receiving and approximately fitting the respective pivot sections of the spindle and 0 with a slot in one of the side walls communicating with the corresponding bearing aperture and formed by slitting the side wall and bending a portion of the metal thereof to form a pro ectin lip, then moving the spindle through th operative position wit the ivot sections thereof fittin the respective caring apertures and wit the handle on the exterior of the casin adjacent the slotted side wall, and finall .w en the spindle is in position bending t e said 1i to return it to the plane of the correspon ing side wall so as toclose the slot and hold the corresponding pivot section'in place in its bearing aperture, the said 1i cooperating with the other parts of e slot into its 25 the si e walls to engage the crank section and thereby prevent endwise movement of the spindle.

' JOSEPH sacHs. 

